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Day after gem, McHugh gets back to work

4/22/14: Collin McHugh fans a career high 12 without allowing a run in his Astros debut, his first career double-digit strikeout game

By Brian McTaggart
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MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- Fresh off his dazzling 12-strikeout performance Tuesday night, Astros right-hander Collin McHugh arrived at Safeco Field on Wednesday morning ready to get back to work and prepare for his next start, which could come Sunday.

"It's always been preached and kind of driven into my head from an early age that yesterday is yesterday," he said. "When I got up today, I said, 'OK, let's get back to work.' I got here and got my work in, and it's time to get going."

McHugh delivered one of the Astros' best pitching performances in recent memory, striking out 12 and allowing only three hits and no walks in 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 5-2 win over Seattle.

McHugh, called up after ace Scott Feldman was placed on the disabled list Monday, became the first Astros pitcher to record 12 strikeouts with no walks or runs allowed since Randy Johnson in 1998. It was the second-most strikeouts in an Astros debut (J.R. Richard fanned 15 in 1971).

McHugh's family was following the game back home in Atlanta via MLB.TV. In fact, his wife, Ashley, was throwing a surprise going away party for some friends at a bar late Tuesday night, an event which turned into a viewing party for McHugh's gem.

"Everybody was huddled around her little iPhone watching it," he said. "She said it was a real good time. A lot of people were rooting for me back home. I've been in baseball a little while and with a lot of different teams. It's fun to get to hear from them and reconnect."

The Astros are still listing Sunday's starter as TBA. That would be McHugh's turn in the rotation.